Smoking pipe attachment



Nov. 17, 1936. ANDERSON 2,061,055

SMOKING PIPE ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 1.4, 1935 In van i'or A ZberZ' Tflfzdens'on Patented Nov. 17, 1936 warren STATES PATENT OFFIQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to attachments for smoking pipes and particularly to removable inserts for the bowls thereof, arranged to prevent clogging of the pipes by tobacco particles.

The main objects of this invention are to pro vide an improved smoking pipe insert that will maintain the tobacco away from contact with moisture in the bottom of the bowl; to provide such a device arranged to serve as a double screen between the tobacco and the entrance to the pipe stem; and toprovide such a device that is more readily removable from the pipe bowl for cleaning purposes.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a partially sectioned side view of a pipe embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the improved insert.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the same showing the arrangement of the supporting prongs.

Smoking pipe inserts arranged to serve as grates within the pipe bowl are generally well known in the art and have been devised in several forms. However, several inherent objections or disadvantages of these devices have remained to be cured. Such disadvantages are mainly the difficulty of providing a standardized device that will fit substantially all pipe bowls and yet positively prevent the passage of tobacco particles into the pipe stem bore; and the inherent difficulty in removing the device for cleaning purposes. It was with the purpose of curing these and other disadvantages that the present invention was devised.

As shown in the drawing, the improved insert comprises a bowl-shaped member having a substantially straight outwardly inclined side wall terminating in an outwardly and downwardly turned or rolled margin from which depend a plurality of angularly spaced prongs or legs. These prongs or legs are spaced from the wall of the insert and engage the wall of the pipe bowl to support the insert; and one of these legs is formed with such width as to amply cover the entrance to the pipe stem bore and is provided with small perforations which screen the said bore entrance. The insert bowl is provided with perforations adjacent its margin to permit the passage of smoke into the bottom cavity of the pipe bowl. In the form shown, the insert l which is formed of a suitable non-corrosive material or metal is substantially in the form of a hollow truncated (Cl. 13l--12) cone, the smaller end of which is closed and rounded. The upwardly and outwardly inclined side wall 2 is substantially straight in vertical section and terminates in a roller or outwardly and'downwardly turned margin 3; and perforations 4, preferably arranged in an annular series adjacent the margin of the side wall 2, are provided to permit smoke to pass to the bottom of the pipe bowl and into the pipe stem bore 5.

Depending from, and integrally attached to, the downwardly turned portion of the margin 3 are a plurality of prongs or legs 6 which are uniformly spaced about the periphery of the margin 3. The prongs or legs 6 are preferably relatively narrow members and may be made with a width of approximately one-eighth of an inch, or even less, and are slightly curved to fit the Wall surface of the pipe bowl. As shown, the prongs 6 are spaced away from the wallet the insert l, and resiliently engage the wall of the pipe bowl securely holding the insert centrally within the bowl.

One of the prongs or legs, indicated at l, is made wider and longer than the prongs 6 which preferably extend downwardly for approximately one-half the height of the insert. The prong l is formed so as to amply cover the entrance to the bore and may be about one-quarter of an inch wide and this prong extends downwardly and inwardly to a point opposite the bottom of the insert where it is turned sharply upward as at 8 to engage the bottom center of the insert. The curvature of the prong l is such as to substantially fit the curvature of the usual pipe bowl.

Beginning at a point well above the bottom of the insert l, the prong l is provided with many perforations 9 which preferably extend as far as the turned-up portion 8 and these perforations provide a screen for the entrance of the bore 5.

In operation the hereindescribed device is inserted, small end down, into the bowl of the pipe so that the perforated portion of the prong I will cover the entrance to the pipe bore 5. In accomplishing this the prongs 6 and I will be sprung inwardly toward the wall 2 of the insert sufficiently so that the pipe bowl will receive the insert, and since the prongs are made of a material having suitable resiliency, the insert, when properly positioned, will be securely held in place and against inadvertent falling out.

Tobacco may then be stuffed or packed into the pipe bowl and when ignited will burn evenly and dryly and even though the tobacco is packed tightly the pipe will draw uniformly. During use of the device the pipe wall will gradually cake in the usual manner and cause the insert to become firmly set in place. However, the pipe may be cleaned by flushing the bowl with steam or hot water and the stem can be cleaned with the usual pipe cleaners.

When it is desired to remove the insert from the pipe bowl, it is only necessary to cut away the cake formation above the insert and then tap the inverted pipe bowl on a firm surface. The upper margin of the insert being turned or rounded and the prongs or legs extending toward the bottom of the pipe bowl, the insert will readily drop out upon tapping of the bowl since there are no sharp upward projections which will catch on the bowl surface.

The principal advantages of the improved pipe insert are its ease of removal and the provision of a secondary screen over the entrance to the pipe bore which effectively prevents clogging of the bore by small particles of tobacco. Other advantages are that the device permits burning of all the tobacco by preventing moisture collected. in the bottom of the bowl from coming into contact with the tobacco, and the fact that during use the insert becomes suiliciently heated to dry or evaporate moisture in the tobacco that would otherwise condense in the bottom of the pipe bowl.

Another advantage is in the upturned portion 8 of the prong I which prevents this prong from being inadvertently forced against the wall or bot tom of the insert, while the same is being placed in the pipe bowl, or during use so as to close off the perforations permitting passage of smoke into the pipe stem bore.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims:

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a bowl-shaped member arranged to fit within the bowl of a smoking pipe, said pipe having a bore entering its bowl adjacent the bottom thereof, said bowl-shaped member having a perforated side wall terminating in an outwardly and downwardly turned margin, and a plurality of spaced prongs depending from the outer edge of said turned margin, said prongs being spaced away from the side wall of said bowl-shaped member,

and one of said prongs extending to the bottom of said bowl-shaped member and terminating in an upwardly turned portion beneath the bottom of said bowl-shaped member, the last-named prong being curved to fit the wall of said pipe bowl and arranged to cover the entrance into said pipe bowl of said pipe bore, and said last-named prong having a plurality of perforations in the portion thereof covering the said bore entrance.

2. A device of the class described comprising a bowl-shaped member having a perforated side wall terminating in an outwardly turned margin, and a prong depending from the outer edge of said turned margin, said prong being spaced away from the side wall of said bowl-shaped member and extending to the bottom thereof, said prong having a plurality of perforations in its lower portion and means at the bottom of said bowlshaped member arranged to keep the perforations of said prong spaced therefrom.

3. A device of the class described comprising a bowl-shaped member having a perforated side wall, and a prong extending downwardly from the outer edge of the margin of said bowl-shaped member and extending below the bottom of said bowl-shaped member, said prong being curved inwardly to substantially fit the bowl of a smoking pipe and being of a width sufiicient to cover the entrance of a bore extending into the bowl of said pipe, said prong having a plurality of perforations in the lower portion thereof and means at the bottom of said bowl-shaped member arranged to space said bowl-shaped member from the bottom of the pipe bowl.

4. A device of the class described comprising a bowl-shaped member arranged to fit within the bowl of a smoking pipe, said pipe having a bore entering its bowl adjacent the bottom thereof, and a prong depending from the outer margin of said bowl-shaped member, said prong extending to the bottom of said bowl-shaped member and terminating in an upwardly turned portion beneath the bottom of said bowl-shaped member, said prong being curved to substantially fit the wall of said pipe bowl and arranged to cover the entrance of said pipe bore into said pipe bowl, and said prong having a plurality of perforations in the portion thereof covering the said bore entrance.

ALBERT T. ANDERSON. 

